General university and specific degree requirements for
UAF graduate programs are described in this section of the catalog, along
with requirements for each graduate program. Review the instructions for
applying for admission.

UAF tenured faculty, tenure track faculty and research faculty
are not eligible to become candidates for a graduate degree within the discipline
in which they teach.

Academics, Policies and Regulations

Many academic policies and regulations apply to both graduate
and undergraduate students. These guidelines are relevant to your academic
experience at UAF and important for you to read and understand. Topics include
definitions and requirements for official university communications, full-
and part-time student status, academic progress, academic dismissal, grading
system and policies, FERPA and the student code of conduct. See Academics
and Regulations for
descriptions of UAF academics, policies and regulations.

General University Requirements

Catalog and Time Limit
You may elect to graduate under the degree requirements
in effect the first semester of your enrollment in your graduate degree
program or under the catalog in effect when you graduate. However, if
you do not meet continuous registration requirements, you waive the right
to use the catalog in effect when you first entered your graduate program;
you will use either the catalog in effect during the semester of your
re-entry or the catalog in effect when you graduate.
All non-academic
policies and regulations listed in the current catalog apply, regardless
of the catalog you are using for your degree requirements. You must
satisfactorily complete all course work listed on your Advancement
to Candidacy form and all other degree requirements within seven years
for a master's degree and 10 years for a Ph.D.

Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA)
You must have a cumulative GPA
of 3.0 (B) in the courses identified on your Advancement to Candidacy
form to remain in good standing and in order to graduate. You must earn
an A or B grade (no P grades) in 400-level courses; a C grade will be
accepted in 600-level courses for the purposes of satisfying degree requirements,
provided you remain in good standing.

Registration Requirement
Graduate students must be registered for at
least 6 credits per year (fall, spring, summer), in graduate or 400-level
courses relevant to the graduate degree, while actively working toward
a degree. Those who wish to temporarily suspend their studies should
obtain an approved leave of absence.
You must be registered for at least
3 graduate credits in the semester in which you receive your degree
and you must apply for graduation in that semester.

Temporary Leave of Absence
If you need to temporarily suspend studies
while earning a graduate degree, you must obtain an approved leave of
absence. If you fail to register for at least 6 graduate or 400-level
credits in a school year (fall, spring or summer semester) or to obtain
a leave of absence, you will be dropped from graduate study and will
have to be reinstated before resuming graduate studies. Contact the Graduate
School for information at (907) 474-7464.

Transfer Credit
A student who earned post-baccalaureate degree credits
while studying as a non-degree student at UAF may, with approval of the
graduate advisory committee, apply those credits toward a graduate degree.
However, no more than one-half of all credits used to meet the requirements
of a graduate degree may be credits earned as a non-degree student. Up
to one-half of all graduate degree credits approved for a graduate program
may be transferred from UAA and UAS. No more than one-third of approved
program credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions
outside the UA system. A minimum B grade is required in all graduate
courses presented for transfer.

Course Restrictions
You may not use credit by examination, audited
courses, 100-, 200-, 300-, and 500-level courses, or courses taken under
the credit/no credit option to fulfill the basic course requirements
of any degree program. No more than 12 credits of special topics courses
(693 or 695) or individual study (697) may be used toward a graduate
degree. The dean of the Graduate School must approve requests for exceptions
to the limit.

Deficiencies
Your advisory committee may require that you remedy certain
deficiencies in your program. Your committee will determine early in
the program both how to remedy the deficiencies and the minimum level
of performance required of you. Graded undergraduate courses taken to
remedy a deficiency must receive a grade of B or better. Deficiency courses
are not listed on the Advancement to Candidacy form.

English Proficiency
You must be proficient in written and oral English.
Your advisory committee will determine requirements to remove any such
deficiencies. These requirements may not be used to fulfill the language/research
tool requirement of some departments.

Cooperative Programs
Some students may develop cooperative programs
using specific courses from other universities before being admitted
to graduate study at UAF. As part of the application process, the cooperative
program must be included in an approved Graduate
Study Plan (GSP).
The student must complete a minimum of 12 semester credits in residence
at UAF, in addition to thesis and research.
The following guidelines are
for collaborative Ph.D. graduate studies across all UA academic units.
Some individual degree programs have different requirements which are
included in specific program descriptions in the graduate
degree program section of the catalog. The guidelines described here apply only to programs
that have not established different requirements.

At least
four faculty members shall serve on the graduate advisory committee
for each Ph.D. student. At least two committee members shall be UAF
faculty. One of the UAF committee members must be on a tenure-track
appointment in a Ph.D.-granting department. The committee shall be
chaired or co-chaired by a UAF faculty member.

The graduate advisory committee and its chair
and/or co-chairs must be approved by the program director and the
dean of the Graduate School.

UAF rules and regulations on graduate studies
shall apply to all UAF graduate students, including those concurrently
enrolled at UAA and UAS.

The graduate advisory committee must meet at
least once a year to update the Graduate Study Plan and to review
the student's
progress toward the degree. The annual progress report must be signed
by all committee members and submitted to the dean of the UAF Graduate
School.

A comprehensive exam committee composed of
the student's advisory committee will administer the Ph.D. comprehensive
exam for each student.

The Ph.D. thesis defense is to be conducted
on the UAF campus.

Graduate Advisory Committee

A graduate advisory committee
is normally appointed within the first semester of study to guide students
in developing and completing their degree programs. Committee members for
graduate degrees are approved by the appropriate dean, usually upon recommendation
of the department head, and by the dean of the Graduate School. Advisory
committees for interdisciplinary students are approved by the dean of the
Graduate School. Each interdisciplinary student follows procedures through
the department of his or her advisory committee chair. The committee chair's
department will be the "home" of the interdisciplinary student for
academic purposes.

The graduate advisory committee's major responsibilities
are to formulate a Graduate Study Plan, in consultation with the student,
by the end of the student's second semester in the graduate program; to develop
a tentative timetable for completion of all requirements for the degree program;
to monitor the student's progress in course work and research; to provide
advice and feedback to the student on that progress; to file an Annual Report
of Graduate Student Advisory Committee with the Graduate School; to approve,
where appropriate, a research topic; to supervise the preparation of the
research thesis or project when one is required; to uphold the standards
of the college/school and the university; to inform the dean, in writing,
if a student's performance is inadequate and provide relevant recommendations;
and to formulate and conduct the comprehensive examination and other exams
as required by the department. The student's advisor (major professor, advisory
committee chair) acts as head of the graduate advisory committee and takes
the lead in fulfilling these responsibilities.

Master's Degree
The core advisory committee of master's degree students
must consist of three approved UAF faculty members. Participating faculty
above this number are considered additional committee members. Committee
membership must be approved by the home department, unit dean and the dean
of the Graduate School.
Retired or emeritus UAF faculty who have an association
with the home department may serve on master's advisory committees, upon
expressed approval by the home department.
Faculty from other universities
and other professionals who are not employed by UAF may serve as either
core or additional committee members on master's advisory committees, upon
expressed approval by the home department. They may not serve as the chair
of an advisory committee, but may serve as co-chair.

Doctoral Degree
The core advisory committee of doctoral degree students
must consist of four approved UAF faculty members. For interdisciplinary
students, one advisory committee member must be from a Ph.D.-granting department
or be approved as the graduate school representative by the graduate school
dean, based on prior experience advising Ph.D. students. Participating
faculty above this number are considered additional committee members.
Committee membership must be approved by the home department, unit dean
and the dean of the Graduate School.
Retired or emeritus UAF faculty who
have an association with the home department may serve on doctoral advisory
committees, upon expressed approval by the home department.
Faculty from
other universities and other professionals who are not employed by UAF
may serve as either core or additional committee members on doctoral advisory
committees, upon expressed approval by the home department. They may not
serve as the chair of an advisory committee, but may serve as co-chair.

Graduate Study Plan

Graduate students must file a Graduate Study Plan (GSP) with
the Graduate School before the end of their second semester in a UAF graduate
degree program. The GSP outlines the curriculum of study and a timetable
the student must follow in meeting graduate degree requirements. The GSP
is prepared by the advisory committee in consultation with the student. It
is an agreement of mutual expectations between the student and the faculty
committee. The GSP not only contains the specific degree requirements but
also indicates the mechanism for fulfilling these requirements (e.g., via
course work, examinations, readings, internships or other supervised experience)
and a projected timetable.

Changing Programs

Graduate students may change their program only when the
areas of emphasis or the degree are within the same department (e.g., from
an M.A. in anthropology to a Ph.D. in anthropology, or from a Ph.D. in biochemistry
and molecular biology to a Ph.D. in environmental chemistry). If the change
meets those requirements, you may change programs by completing a change
of major form, available from the Registrar's Office or online at the registrar
website. Regardless of when you submit the form, a change of program doesn't
become effective until the beginning of the upcoming fall or spring semester.
If, however, you want to change to a program in a different department, school
or college (e.g., from an M.S. in civil engineering to an M.S. in biology),
you must submit a new application for admission so faculty in the new degree
program may fully review your credentials. For more information, contact
the Graduate School at (907) 474-7464.

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy formally establishes your specific
degree requirements and should be done as soon as possible after qualifying.
At the latest, you should submit your application for advancement to candidacy
one semester before you are awarded your degree. If you are completing your
programs primarily during the summer sessions, you should submit your application
the summer session before you are awarded your degree.

The finalized Graduate Study Plan should be the basis for
completing the Advancement to Candidacy form. The GPA for all courses listed
on the Advancement to Candidacy form must be ≥3.0, and no graduate courses with
grades below C, or undergraduate courses with grades below B, can be used.

Admission to graduate study does not imply advancement to
candidacy for a degree. The graduate advisory committee has the option of
refusing to recommend a student to candidacy.

Master's Degree
You may apply for advancement to candidacy for a specific
master's degree if you are in good standing and you have:

Satisfactorily completed at least 9 semester
credits of graduate study at UAF (study after admission to a specific
degree program).

Received approval of a provisional thesis or
project topic.

Received approval of the finalized Graduate
Study Plan, including specific course work to be completed and any
other requirements.

Doctoral Degree
You may apply for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D.
degree if you are in good standing and you have:

Completed the full time equivalent of two academic
years of graduate study.

Completed at least 9 UAF credits.

Received approval of the Graduate Study Plan.

Obtained approval of the advisory committee
for the title and synopsis of the thesis.

Passed a written comprehensive examination.

Examinations

Examinations are given in both written and oral form, depending
upon the policy of the program unit, the decision of the advisory committee
and the specific examination being taken.

Placement Examinations
Some programs have formalized placement exams
designed to pinpoint a student's strengths and weaknesses as an aid in
developing the Graduate Study Plan. This evaluation is carried out during
the student's first semester at the university, preferably in the first
month, and may be written, oral or both.

Qualifying Examinations
A few master's degree programs require the student
to complete a written and/or oral qualifying examination before advancement
to candidacy. This examination is an interim evaluation of academic progress;
the student may pass unconditionally or conditionally. A conditional pass
indicates specific weaknesses that the student must remedy before degree
requirements are completed. The Graduate Study Plan and later the Advancement
to Candidacy form should include mechanisms for addressing these weaknesses.

Comprehensive (Final) Examination
The comprehensive examination is given
to determine whether the student has integrated knowledge and understanding
of the principles and concepts underlying major and related fields. It
may be oral or written or a combination of both. Ph.D. degree students
normally take a written comprehensive examination within two academic years
of entering the program, but no later than two academic years before the
expected completion of the degree (whichever is earliest). The Ph.D. student's
advisory committee may choose to give an oral examination to supplement
the written comprehensive examination. Each Ph.D. student must pass the
comprehensive examination prior to advancement to candidacy.

Defense of Thesis Examination
Graduate students who are required to complete
a thesis in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must pass an oral
defense of thesis examination. The defense will consist of a presentation
followed by questions on the research, analysis and written presentation.
The Graduate School will not accept a thesis for final submission until
the student has successfully defended it. All committee members must be
present for the defense of thesis.

Examination Committee
In most cases, the student's graduate advisory
committee prepares and gives the examinations under guidelines formulated
by the faculty of the department in which the degree is being taken. In
a few programs, examinations are replaced or supplemented by departmental
or school examinations and administered by an established examining committee.

Outside Examiner
An outside examiner representing and appointed by the
dean of the Graduate School is required at all Ph.D. oral examinations
(except the placement examination). The examiner must be from a different
department than the student and the chair of the advisory committee. The
outside examiner is present to determine that a stringent, unbiased examination
is fairly administered and evaluated.

Language/Research Tool Requirement
Proficiency in a second language or
a research tool is not a university requirement, but some departments or
programs may make this requirement. An advisory committee may specify a
language or research tool if its requirements exceed those of the program.
The
specific language or research tool is determined by the advisory committee,
guided by policies of the administrative unit in which the degree is
offered. Generally, competency in a second language is required. However,
upon approval of the department or program head, the committee may substitute
computer languages, statistics, mathematics, or study in areas such as
history or philosophy of science, business, administration, law, or economics.
In all instances, topics selected must support the student's degree program.

Graduation

Responsibility
You are responsible for meeting all requirements for graduation.

Application for Graduation
You must be registered for at least 3 graduate
credits in the semester in which you receive your degree. You must file
an application for graduation and a non-refundable fee with the Registrar's
Office at the beginning of the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Applications for graduation filed after the deadline will be processed
for graduation the following semester. You need not have all requirements
met before you apply for graduation. The application is an indication that
you are planning to finish during that semester. Students who apply for
graduation and who do not complete degree requirements by the end of the
semester must reapply for graduation and pay the fee again.

Diplomas and Commencement
UAF issues diplomas to graduates three times
each year: in September following the summer sessions, in January at the
close of the fall semester, and in May at the end of the spring semester.
All students who complete degree requirements during the academic year
are invited to participate in the annual commencement ceremony at the end
of spring semester. Names of students receiving degrees appear in the commencement
program and are released to the media unless a written request not to do
so has been received by the graduation department. Students who do not
want their names to be released may so indicate on the application for
graduation form. Graduates are responsible for ordering caps and gowns
through the UAF bookstore in early spring. Master's students also must
order hoods; the color of the hood is determined by the graduate's school
or college. Doctoral students who attend the commencement ceremony will
receive a doctoral hood on stage during the ceremony.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistants generally receive stipends of $8,500
to $10,500 for the academic year. Graduate assistants can be paid for a maximum
of 20 hours per week while school is in session. Rare exceptions to this
rule must be approved by the student's committee chair, department head,
dean and the Graduate School dean. Students with assistantships must be registered
for at least 9 credits during the fall and spring semesters and 6 credits
during the summer (audited credits are not eligible).

Teaching assistantships include a tuition payment by the
university for no more than 10 credits to cover three courses during each
semester if the workload is 15 to 20 hours per week. If the workload is 10
to 14 hours per week, no more than 5 credits will be included. No tuition
will be included if the workload is less than 10 hours per week.

Research assistantships include a tuition payment by grants/contracts
for no more than 10 credits to cover three courses during each semester if
the workload is 15 to 20 hours per week. If the workload is 10 to 14 hours
per week, no more than 5 credits will be included. No tuition will be included
if the workload is less than 10 hours per week.

Tuition supplements may be used for tuition only. All fees
are the responsibility of the student unless the department or grant makes
other arrangements with the UAF Business Office prior to registration.

Students who have a 10-20 hour per week research or teaching
assistantship during the summer semester may apply for a summer tuition scholarship.
To be eligible for the summer tuition scholarship, students must have been
enrolled in a minimum of three UAF credits in fall 2005 and/or spring 2006.
Please see the Graduate School for further information or an application.

A graduate student with a GPA less than 3.0 for one semester
will be allowed to petition to continue as a graduate assistant for the next
semester. A maximum one semester exception will be allowed per student. The
petition by the student must be approved by the student's advisory committee
chair, department head and dean.